Birmingham, AL – Faculty from Jacksonville State University (JSU) presented their experiences with the “Cocky Cares for Calhoun County Health Fair” during the 7th Annual Interprofessional Healthcare Symposium: Elevating Patient Safety Through Interprofessional Innovation on July 25 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The presentation, Faculty Reflections on Designing and Implementing an Interprofessional Community-Based Health Fair, highlighted the development and impact of the annual event, which began in 2021. Originally launched by JSU’s School of Nursing, the health fair has grown to include contributions from the Kinesiology, Respiratory Therapy, Public Health, Dietetics, and Social Work programs.
The “Cocky Cares” initiative is designed to serve medically underserved residents in Calhoun County by offering health education, promotion, and screenings. Services have included health and mental health screenings, immunizations, and educational resources on topics such as nutrition, diabetes management, and smoking cessation.
At the symposium, faculty shared their perspectives on the benefits, challenges, and future opportunities of this interprofessional education (IPE) model, emphasizing lessons learned from planning and hosting such a community-focused event.
Presenters included:
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Missy Duckett, DNP, MSN, RN, CCRN – Associate Professor, School of Nursing
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Meghan Burroughs, PhD – Assistant Professor, Public Health Program
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Tammy Killen, MSN, RN – Instructor, School of Nursing
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Rhonda Knight, MPH, RD – Instructor, Dietetics Program
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Kelley Swatzell, DrPH – Associate Professor, Public Health Program
The symposium provided a platform for healthcare professionals and educators to explore collaborative approaches to patient safety and care innovation, making it a fitting venue for JSU faculty to share their work on this evolving health fair model.
